nothing
nothing — adjective
1. having no real value, meaning, or importance — used to describe an argument, com
having no real value, meaning, or importance — used to describe an argument, comment, or detail that feels empty or completely unimportant.
The meeting produced a nothing statement that everyone had already agreed on.
attributive use before a noun
After three hours of debate, they wrote a nothing agreement that satisfied nobody.
Élise dismissed his comment as a nothing remark not worth discussing.
The article was a nothing piece that added no new information to the debate.
- nothing statement
- nothing agreement
- nothing remark
- nothing argument
- worthless
more direct and common; 'nothing' as an adjective is more dismissive and informal
- empty
emphasises lack of content rather than lack of value
- meaningless
similar but used more broadly; 'nothing' is more colloquial
- significant
opposite in terms of importance
- valuable
opposite in terms of worth
Usage Note
Almost always used attributively (before a noun). Common in informal criticism: 'a nothing movie', 'a nothing job'.
nothing — adverb
1. used before certain phrases to emphasise that a description is exactly true or t
used before certain phrases to emphasise that a description is exactly true or that something is not at all the case — for instance, a result being 'nothing less than a triumph' or a taste being 'nothing like coffee'.
The view from the mountain was nothing short of amazing.
nothing short of — for emphasising how strong a quality is
This instant soup tastes nothing like the homemade version my grandmother made.
Constanza's recovery was nothing less than a miracle, according to the doctors.
The new building looks nothing like the architect's original drawings.
nothing like — for saying two things are very different
- nothing short of
- nothing less than
- nothing like
- not at all
more general and flexible; 'nothing like/less than' is more idiomatic
- in no way
similar meaning but different grammatical structure
Grammar Patterns
nothing + like/less than/short of
Usage Note
This sense always appears in set phrases: 'nothing short of', 'nothing less than', 'nothing like'. It does not stand alone as a general adverb.
nothing — noun
1. a person who is thought to have no ability, value, or importance in society.
a person who is thought to have no ability, value, or importance in society.
The old man's colleagues treated him like a nothing after he retired.
countable noun: a nothing
Selim refused to be treated as a nothing by his so-called friends.
In a company full of famous designers, the junior artist felt like a nothing.
Gita left the job because her boss made her feel like a complete nothing.
- a nothing
- like a nothing
- feel like a nothing
- treat someone like a nothing
- somebody
a person of importance or status
Grammar Patterns
be a nothing
Usage Note
Always used with an article ('a nothing') or in the phrase 'like a nothing'. Strongly derogatory — can be offensive when used about someone directly.
nothing — pronoun
1. not a single thing; no object, idea, action, or event of a particular type exist
not a single thing; no object, idea, action, or event of a particular type exists or is present.
Eri opened the fridge but found nothing she wanted to eat.
nothing + relative clause
There was nothing in the envelope except a blank piece of paper.
Anong said nothing during the whole two-hour meeting.
nothing as direct object of say/tell
Jin has nothing planned for the summer, so he might travel around Taiwan.
Liam looked everywhere in the house but found nothing wrong.
- nothing to do
- nothing to say
- nothing wrong
- nothing new
- nothing much
- not anything
emphatic form used especially with 'did not' or 'do not'
- zero
informal, used for emphasis in counting or measuring
- everything
all things; the opposite of nothing
- something
an unspecified thing
Grammar Patterns
nothing + to-infinitive
nothing + relative clause
Common Mistakes
2. used to tell someone that a matter is private or that they have no right to ask
used to tell someone that a matter is private or that they have no right to ask about it.
"Where I go on holiday is nothing to do with you," said Christopher.
nothing to do with you — telling someone it is private
It is none of your business how much money Gabriel earns each month.
Amani asked about the divorce, but Élise told her that was nothing to her.
Zola's private life is nothing to do with her colleagues at work.
- nothing to do with you
- nothing of your business
- nothing to do with me
- none of your business
more direct and slightly ruder; a fixed phrase
- not your concern
slightly more formal than 'nothing to do with you'
Grammar Patterns
nothing to do with + noun
be nothing to + noun
Usage Note
Common in informal refusals to answer: 'That's nothing to do with you' or 'None of your business' (more direct, slightly ruder).
3. used to say that someone or something is not involved in, related to, or respons
used to say that someone or something is not involved in, related to, or responsible for something else.
The accident had nothing to do with the icy road conditions.
have nothing to do with + noun
Christopher's decision was based on his healthcare needs and had nothing to do with cost.
The strange smell in the kitchen has nothing to do with the fish you bought.
Anong insisted that her leaving had nothing to do with the argument last Friday.
- have nothing to do with
- nothing whatsoever to do with
- unrelated to
more formal; 'have nothing to do with' is the idiomatic everyday version
- irrelevant to
focuses on lack of relevance rather than lack of involvement
- related to
connected or associated with
Grammar Patterns
have nothing to do with + noun
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2 (NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS): sense 2 is about privacy and the right to know; sense 3 is about factual lack of involvement or causation.
4. used to say that something is not important, valuable, or worth worrying about.
used to say that something is not important, valuable, or worth worrying about.
To Gita, the critics' opinions mean nothing compared to her audience's response.
mean nothing — for importance comparison
The team's early lead counted for nothing after they lost in the final minute.
All those worries amount to nothing when you look at the big picture.
Years of expensive training meant nothing to Selim when the factory closed down.
- mean nothing
- count for nothing
- amount to nothing
- be nothing compared to
- unimportant
more direct; 'nothing' in this sense is more idiomatic and emphatic
- valueless
stronger, implying zero worth; less common in everyday speech
- everything
something of the highest importance
Grammar Patterns
mean nothing to + noun
count for nothing
be nothing to + noun
Usage Note
Frequently used with verbs like 'mean', 'count', 'amount to' to express lack of value. Can be softened with 'almost' or 'nearly'.
5. used to say that something is given or done without the person having to pay; fr
used to say that something is given or done without the person having to pay; free of charge.
Children got into the museum for nothing on the first Sunday of each month.
for nothing — meaning free of charge
Zola repaired the old radio for her neighbour for nothing, just for fun.
The hotel offered us breakfast for nothing as part of the weekend package.
Constanza got a free ticket for the concert through a friend, so she went for nothing.
for nothing with go/get/do verbs
- for nothing
- get something for nothing
- do something for nothing
- free
more direct and common; 'for nothing' is slightly more informal
- free of charge
more formal; common in official contexts
- at a cost
requiring payment
Grammar Patterns
for nothing
Usage Note
Always appears in the phrase 'for nothing' in this sense. Can also appear in 'get something for nothing', implying getting a benefit without effort or cost.
Common Mistakes
6. used when an effort, plan, or attempt produces no useful outcome or reward.
used when an effort, plan, or attempt produces no useful outcome or reward.
Eri tried for months to fix the old car, but all her effort came to nothing.
come to nothing — effort producing no result
All our careful planning was for nothing when the city cancelled the event.
The police search for the missing hiker went on for a week but came to nothing.
come to nothing — searching producing no result
Gabriel waited for two hours, but it was all for nothing — he never showed up.
- come to nothing
- be for nothing
- all for nothing
- in vain
more formal; 'for nothing' is the everyday equivalent
- to no avail
formal; used in written narratives
- successfully
producing the desired outcome
Grammar Patterns
come to nothing
be for nothing
Usage Note
Common in two fixed phrases: 'come to nothing' (plans/efforts fail to produce a result) and 'be for nothing' (effort was wasted). Distinguish from sense 5 (WITHOUT PAYMENT) where 'for nothing' means 'free'.
7. used to describe a person who is not wearing any clothes on their body.
used to describe a person who is not wearing any clothes on their body.
The statue showed a man with nothing on except a strip of cloth around his waist.
with nothing on — describing not wearing clothes
Jin felt shy walking across the room with nothing on.
The baby ran out of the bath with nothing on, laughing and dripping water everywhere.
with nothing on — used for describing nudity
The model wore nothing but a thin layer of white paint for the photoshoot.
- wearing nothing
- have nothing on
- with nothing on
- nothing but
- dressed
wearing clothes
Grammar Patterns
wear/have nothing on
with nothing on
Usage Note
Used in the phrases 'wearing nothing', 'have nothing on', or 'with nothing on'. Less direct and more polite than 'naked' in many contexts.
8. used to say that a person has no social commitments, tasks, or plans for a parti
used to say that a person has no social commitments, tasks, or plans for a particular period of time.
"What are you doing this weekend?" "Nothing special — just relaxing at home."
nothing in reply to 'what are you doing'
Selim has nothing planned for the summer break, so he might take a last-minute trip.
There is nothing on my calendar for next Tuesday, so I can meet you for lunch.
nothing on — no appointments scheduled
Liam asked what we were doing tonight, and I told him nothing in particular.
- nothing planned
- nothing on
- nothing special
- nothing much
- nothing in particular
- nothing much
softer, more casual; implies minor tasks rather than no tasks at all
- free
describes the person's availability rather than absence of plans
- busy
having many plans or commitments
Grammar Patterns
have nothing planned
nothing on + time period
Usage Note
Common in everyday conversation. 'I have nothing on [day]' means no appointments. 'Nothing much' is a very common informal reply to 'What's up?' or 'What are you doing?'.
nothing but
idiomonly; no more or less than what is mentioned — used to emphasise that something consists entirely of one thing.
The children's meal was nothing but chicken nuggets and chips.
Élise said her motivation was nothing but a desire to help her community.
nothing if not
idiomextremely; very — used to emphasise a particular quality that someone or something has to a high degree.
The team leader is nothing if not organised — she has every detail written down.
This restaurant is nothing if not consistent; the food tastes the same every time.
nothing less than
idiomused to emphasise how great or extreme something is; completely and absolutely.
The rescue operation was nothing less than a triumph of teamwork.
Constanza's proposal demands nothing less than a complete review of company policy.
nothing like
idiomnot at all similar to; completely different from something else.
The film was nothing like the book — the ending was completely different.
This artificial fabric feels nothing like real silk.
sweet nothings
idiomromantic or affectionate words spoken quietly between lovers, often without much real meaning.
The couple sat on the balcony whispering sweet nothings to each other.
He wrote her a card full of sweet nothings that made her smile.
stop at nothing
idiomto be willing to do anything, even extreme or unethical things, in order to achieve what you want.
The journalist stopped at nothing to get the exclusive story.
Amani will stop at nothing to win the competition.
used to say that something is extremely easy to do.
"Can you change a tyre?" "Sure, there is nothing to it — I will show you."
Liam thought assembling the furniture would be hard, but there was nothing to it.
think nothing of it
idioma polite response when someone thanks you for something you have done; also used to say that someone does something difficult without considering it a problem.
"Thank you so much for helping me move." "Think nothing of it — I was happy to help."
Eri thinks nothing of running ten kilometres before breakfast.
for nothing
idiomwithout achieving anything useful; in vain.
Gabriel waited for two hours, but it was all for nothing — he never showed up.
All our hard work will be for nothing if the funding runs out.
to not be nearly as good, impressive, or desirable as another person or thing.
This homemade pizza has nothing on the one from Luigi's restaurant.
Zola is a fast runner, but she has nothing on the Olympic champion.
Someone does not have any romantic or emotional feelings for another person.
After the breakup, he was nothing to me anymore.
Why do you care? She is nothing to you now.
To have no relationship or connection with a person or thing.
My decision has nothing to do with your opinion.
This problem is nothing to do with the computer.
To be much less skilled or impressive than someone else in a particular area.
I can run fast, but I have nothing on Maya.
His cooking is good, but he has nothing on his mother.
it is/was nothing
idiomA polite response to thanks, meaning the action was not difficult or important.
“Thank you for the ride.” “It was nothing, I was going that way.”
“I appreciate your help.” “It is nothing, really.”
not for nothing
idiomUsed to emphasize that there is a good reason for something.
Not for nothing did she win the award; she worked hard.
He is called the expert, and not for nothing.
nothing much
idiomA small amount of something; nothing important or interesting.
There is nothing much to eat in the kitchen.
I did nothing much yesterday except read a book.
Used to say that something is very easy to do.
Don't worry about the test; there's nothing to it.
You can fix this bike; there's nothing to it.
There is no other possible action except the one mentioned.
There was nothing for it but to tell the truth.
With no bus, there was nothing else for it but to walk.
Something is not true or has no real basis.
I heard a rumor, but there was nothing in it.
The news report said there is nothing in the claim.
Used to say that you enjoy something very much or it is the best.
There's nothing like a hot shower after a long run.
There's nothing like fresh bread from the oven.
Word family
- nothingnessnounB2
- nothingsnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: pronoun/1
NOT ANYTHING is the most common neutral way to express the absence of things in English. 'Nothing' is the standard pronoun used as a subject or object ('Nothing happened'; 'I saw nothing'). 'Not anything' is an alternative that pairs with auxiliary verbs and is slightly more emphatic ('I did not see anything'). 'Zero' and 'nil' are informal and used mainly for quantities, scores, or measurements. For example, if your fridge is completely empty you would say 'There is nothing to eat', not '*There is zero to eat'. In contrast, you might say 'The score was three to zero' or 'My chances of winning are zero'. For everyday statements about absence, 'nothing' is always correct. 'Nil' is mostly British and used in sports scores or official contexts ('The team won three-nil').
Common collocations
Nouns
- nothing change
- nothing comparison
- nothing difference
Adverbs
- absolutely nothing
- almost nothing
- nearly nothing
- practically nothing
- virtually nothing
- exactly nothing
Phrases
- nothing less than
- nothing short of
- nothing but
- nothing much
- nothing more than
- nothing like
- nothing new
- nothing else
Prepositions
- for nothing
- in nothing
- about nothing
- to nothing
Etymology
The word 'nothing' comes from Old English 'nān þing' (no thing), where 'nān' means 'not one' and 'þing' means 'thing, entity, object'. Over time, 'nān þing' merged into 'nothing' in Middle English. The compound structure ('no' + 'thing') is paralleled in other Germanic languages, such as German 'nichts' and Dutch 'niets', though those use a different negation root. The pronoun sense (not a single thing) has been the core meaning since Old English, while the noun sense (a worthless person) and adjective sense (worthless) developed later in Middle and Modern English.